27 Feb 2026 One-Pager: Strengthening Program Integrity and Oversight in the Child Care & Development Fund (CCDF) in Children
BPC Action’s one-pager explains how to strengthen integrity and oversight in the Child Care & Development Fund (CCDF).
What is CCDF and Why Does it Matter?
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the federal government’s primary child care assistance fund, supporting low-income working families through a federal–state partnership. Administered under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), CCDF helps parents remain attached to the workforce by supporting access to licensed providers across a mixed-delivery system, thus mitigating broader economic disruptions associated with child care instability. Research consistently shows that gaps in child care access reduce labor force participation, increase absenteeism, and impose costs on employers and regional economies.
How Does CCDF Oversight Currently Operate?
CCDF operates through a federal–state structure in which states administer the program in accordance with broad federal statutory requirements and the commitments states outline in their approved plans. Within this framework, states are responsible for day-to-day administration and compliance, while federal guidance and shared tools related to program integrity remain relatively high-level. This structure provides flexibility, but variation in administrative systems, guidance, and data tools can shape how improper-payment risk is identified and addressed.
